What I Will Miss About the U.S.

My time in the United States is soon coming to an end. It has been a great time, and there will be a lot of things I will be missing when I have to leave. As is often the case, it's the small things that I think I will miss the most when I am back in Germany. For example:

Water fountains: They are everywhere and simply super convenient. If you are thirsty and need a drink, these are life-savers. Now, it is true that you could simply walk into any restroom and fill up a bottle with water from the tap but it is just not as convenient once you are used to the small water fountains. While I was not a fan of them at first, I am by now so used to them that I know I will miss them when I leave.

People holding doors: Men in particular are very enthusiastic about holding doors for other people. Even if I am still quite a few meters away, people will patiently wait until I have arrived by the door if it is clear that I will be walking there. This was quite surprising to me at first, and I am still not sure where this behavior comes from. It's not like Germans do not hold the door for other people; we do! But not to this extent. It can get quite hilarious at times.

Easy chitchat: Making smalltalk is super easy to do in America. It seems like everybody chats up everybody else for really no reason at all but to talk. Before I came here, I was not a fan of smalltalk at all. I felt it was not necessary and a waste of time. I have changed my opinion. While I do not enjoy making smalltalk all the time, I usually enjoy it MOST of the time. No, I am not planning the next political revolution when I talk with the bus driver or the person who is waiting in line behind me at the supermarket. But, if nothing else, these conversations have given me insight into the life of many different people, and often also simply made me smile. I will miss this easy chitchat when I leave.

Hamburgers: I love hamburgers, and there is simply no better place than America to get a good hamburger at any place and anytime. And smores as dessert. It is just so yummy. What more needs to be said.

“How are you?”: As we all know, this greeting simply means “Hello” and nobody is wondering how you are really feeling. I have always thought this to be hilarious, and I still do. It makes no sense to me, and it took me a while to get used to it, but now I think I will actually miss the rather useless exchange of “Hi, how are you?” “Good, how are you?” “Good.”

Friends: This one is obvious, but needs to be said. I have met so many amazing people during my stay here, and I'll miss them a lot when I need to leave. I know that I probably will not see most of them again, and that makes me sad. However, we had such a great time together that I know that I should rather be happy to have met you than sad that I have to leave.

Honorary mention to:

All the international students who started school in Athens with me in January, and who I had a great time with comparing our “American experience.” 

The American family I tortured with my constant comments of “What you do is SO AMERICAN” whenever they showed me something new I deemed to be "American."

And, the people of my favorite student organization in Athens who patiently answered tons of my questions.

I'll miss you tons!